Bottle Stopper With A Dispensing Mechanism

ABSTRACT

A bottle stopper with an inlet and outlet fitting that is adapted to receive a pressurized gas to dispense a liquid from the lower portion of a bottle and having a hand grip with a dedicated arch partially conforming to at least one finger. The bottle stopper includes a dispensing mechanism having a receiving structure with at least one sealing rib configured to conform to an inner wall of a dispensing container port when the sealing rib is inserted into the dispensing container port. The receiving structure receives an end portion of a dispensing structure tube having a latching surface located on an outer perimeter of the dispensing structure tube. The primary handle structure is located opposite the secondary handle structure and they each have a dedicated arch partially conforming to a user&#39;s fingers for removing or installing the dispensing structure tube into or out of the receiving structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates, generally, to a bottle stopper with an inlet and outlet fitting.

More particularly, it relates to a bottle stopper that is pressurized to dispense a liquid from the lower portion of a bottle.

2. Background Art

The bottle stoppers used in many conventional bottles are adapted to be used with bottles having a neck portion. Some bottle stoppers have a single opening that can dispense a liquid from the bottle by being gravity fed, which requires the bottle to be tipped upside-down for a liquid to exit the bottle. Gravity fed dispensing stoppers make the dispensing of a liquid from the lower portion of a bottle time consuming and strenuous for a user when a user has to tip the bottle upside-down. Moreover, gravity fed bottle stoppers have a slower rate of dispensing its liquid contents in comparison to pressurized dispensing systems. Currently, a bottle has to be within reach of a user when a liquid is dispensed with a gravity fed dispensing stopper. There is a need for the bottles to be stored in a thermally controlled environment such as a cooler or a refrigerator while the contents of the bottle are dispensed. There is also a need for the bottles to be stored in an inconspicuous area such as in a cabinet or under a table while the contents of the bottle are dispensed.

When a prior art bottle stopper is inserted into and removed from a bottle, a user grasps and pulls the dispensing tube of the bottle stopper which is unsanitary and can transfer contaminants from a user's hands to the liquid being poured from the bottle. A bottle stopper can operate with a pressurized dispensing system, which is a more efficient and sanitary alternative for dispensing a bottled liquid compared to prior art bottle stoppers.

There are several challenges to overcome with using a pressurized bottle stopper to dispense a liquid from the lower portion of a dispensing container. One challenge being the need for a bottle stopper to receive a pressurized gas while maintaining an air-tight seal with the dispensing container. Thus, there is a need for a pressurized gas to be transferred through the bottle stopper and into a bottle capable of dispensing a fluid from the lower portion of the bottle.

Some prior art bottle stoppers are designed to have a solid rubber plug configured to be inserted into a bottle port. Solid rubber stoppers create a seal between the bottle port and the bottle stopper which limits the area to be sealed by the perimeter of the solid rubber stopper. The problem with a solid rubber stopper is that they do not create an air-tight seal that conforms to a plurality of different sized bottle ports. Thus, there is a need for a bottle stopper that allows the dispensing system to be used with bottles having a plurality of differing sized ports.

Currently, most prior art bottle stoppers on the market operate with an outlet fitting. These bottle stoppers dispense a liquid by gravity when a bottle is tipped over. Thus, there is a need for an improved, bottle stopper that is adapted for the liquid contents of a bottle to receive a pressurized gas, allowing the liquid to be dispensed while the bottle is in an upright position. This is more desirable to a user and allows for the contents of a bottle to be dispensed easier and more quickly. More particularly, a pressurized bottle stopper is more effective at dispensing liquids.

Prior art bottle stoppers are difficult to grasp when removing from and installing into a bottle. Thus, there is a need for a bottle stopper that allows for a user to easily grasp a portion of the bottle stopper for removing out of or installing into a bottle.

Some prior art container fittings are designed to accept a tube through an opening, penetrating the container fitting. The problem with the prior art container fittings is that as the tubes are installed onto the fitting, the tubes could easily slide off the fitting. Moreover, the fittings do not allow for an air-tight seal between the tubes and the fitting. This makes the fitting susceptible to the liquid leaking out from the bottle and contamination of foreign matter into the bottle. Thus, there is a need for an improved fitting for attaching the tubes so that the tubes do not slip off. The improved fitting also improves the effectiveness of an air-tight tube dispensing a liquid from the bottom portion of a dispensing container.

However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made; it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a bottle stopper with an inlet and outlet fitting that is adapted to receive a pressurized gas to dispense a liquid from the lower portion of a bottle and having a hand grip with a dedicated arch partially conforming to at least one finger which also includes improvements that overcome the limitations of prior art bottle stoppers, is now met by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention.

The novel bottle stopper includes a dispensing mechanism having a receiving structure with at least one sealing rib. At least one sealing rib is located on the perimeter of the receiving structure. At least one sealing rib of the receiving structure is configured to conform to an inner wall of a dispensing container port when at least one sealing rib is inserted into the dispensing container port. The sealing rib is a pliable material including, but not limited to, rubber or plastic. It is within the scope of this invention for a plurality of sealing ribs to be located on a perimeter of the receiving structure. The plurality of sealing ribs graduates from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter, creating a tapered configuration. When a sealing rib comes into contact with the dispensing container port, the sealing rib conforms to the dispensing container port, creating an air-tight seal. It is the tapered configuration of the differing sized sealing ribs which allows the dispensing device to be installed into a plurality of differing sized dispensing container ports.

The receiving structure receives an end portion of a dispensing structure tube having a latching surface located on an outer perimeter of the dispensing structure tube. A latching surface of the dispensing structure tube is configured to mate with a surface within the receiving structure, whereby, the dispensing structure tube forms a water tight seal to a receiving structure wall. The dispensing structure tube has a primary port capable of transferring a gas into or out of a dispensing container. The primary port is configured to receive a gas from a compressed gas source including, but not limited to, a compressor or CO₂ bottle by including, but not limited to, a hose or a tube. The pressurized gas received by the primary port is contained in the dispensing container. The hose or tube has an end that is connected to a compressed gas source located opposite an end that is received by the primary port. The primary port has an integrally formed latching structure having a push lock, a plastic washer, and a rubber bushing for an end portion of the hose or tube to connect to.

The dispensing structure tube has a secondary port capable of transferring a liquid into or out of the dispensing container. The secondary port has an end configured to dispense a liquid from the dispensing container by a hose or tube. The hose or tube has an end that connects to a dispenser having a shut off valve located opposite an end that is received by the secondary port. The secondary port has an integrally formed latching structure having a push lock, a plastic washer, and a rubber bushing for an end portion of the hose or tube to conform to. The secondary port has an opposite end configured to receive a pick-up hose or tube having a length great enough to receive a liquid from the lower portion of the dispensing container. It is also within the scope of this invention for the secondary port having an end with a barb configured to receive an end of a pick-up hose or tube.

This novel invention also includes an improved dispensing structure tube having a hand grip with a primary handle structure located on an outer wall of the dispensing structure tube opposite a secondary handle structure located on an outer wall of the dispensing structure tube. More particularly, the preferred configuration is the primary handle structure located opposite the secondary handle structure, whereby, the primary handle structure and the secondary handle structure each having a dedicated arch partially conforming to a user's fingers for removing or installing the dispensing structure tube into or out of the receiving structure. It is also within the scope of this invention for the primary handle structure and the secondary handle structure each having a dedicated arch partially conforming to a user's fingers for removing or installing the receiving structure into or out of the dispensing container port.

This novel invention also includes an improved dispensing structure tube having a plurality of latching surfaces, whereby, the receiving structure is positioned between a plurality of latching surfaces. More particularly, the placement of the receiving structure between a plurality of latching surfaces secures the receiving structure in place and prevents the receiving structure from sliding up or down the dispensing structure tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the novel dispensing mechanism and dispending container;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the novel dispensing mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the novel dispensing mechanism;

FIG. 4 is side perspective view of the novel dispensing mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a side cut away view depicting the primary port and the secondary port latching structure;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, FIGS. 1-5 show dispensing mechanism 1 having receiving structure 2 with at least one sealing rib 3. At least one sealing rib 3 is located on a perimeter of receiving structure 2. At least one sealing rib 3 of receiving structure 2 is configured to conform to an inner wall 6 (FIG. 1) of dispensing container port 5 (FIG. 1) when at least one sealing rib 3 is inserted into dispensing container port 5 (FIG. 1). It is also within the scope of this invention for receiving structure 2 having a plurality of sealing ribs 3 located thereon. FIGS. 2 and 3 best depict receiving structure 2 receiving an end portion 8 of dispensing structure tube 7. FIGS. 1-5 illustrate dispensing structure tube 7 having latching surface 9 located on an outer perimeter of dispensing structure tube 7. Latching surface 9 of dispensing structure tube 7 has a raised portion configured to restrict removal of dispensing structure tube 7 from receiving structure 2. Dispensing structure tube 7 forms a water tight seal with receiving structure inner wall 11 (FIG. 1). As best depicted in FIGS. 1-3 and 5, dispensing structure tube 7 has primary port 12 capable of transferring a gas into or out of dispensing container 4 (FIG. 1). Dispensing structure tube 7 has secondary port 13A (FIGS. 1 and 5) and 13B (FIGS. 2-5) capable of transferring a liquid (not shown) into or out of dispensing container 4 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 5 teaches primary port 12 is configured to receive a gas from a compressed gas source including, but not limited to, a compressor (not shown) or CO₂ bottle (not shown) by way of including, but not limited to, a hose or a tube 15 (FIG. 5). The pressurized gas received by primary port 12 is contained in dispensing container 4 (FIG. 1). Hose or tube 15 has an end 23 that is connected to a compressed gas source (not shown) located opposite an end portion 10 that is received by primary port 12. Primary port 12 has an integrally formed latching structure 24 having push lock 25, washer 26 being a material including, but not limited to, plastic, and bushing 14 being a material including, but not limited to, rubber, for hose or tube 15 to connect to.

FIG. 5 shows dispensing structure tube 7 having a secondary port with a secondary port end 13A located opposite secondary port end 13B capable of transferring a liquid (not shown) into or out of dispensing container 4 (FIG. 1). Secondary port end 13A is configured to dispense a liquid from a lower portion 22 (FIG. 1) of dispensing container 4 (FIG. 1). Secondary port end 13A has an integrally formed latching structure 24 having push lock 25, washer 26 being a material including, but not limited to, plastic and bushing 14 being a material including, but not limited to, rubber, for hose or tube (not shown) to connect to. Secondary port end 13A has an opposite end 13B configured to receive a pick-up tube (not shown) having a length great enough to receive a liquid (not shown) from the lower portion of dispensing container 4 (FIG. 1). As shown in FIGS. 1-5 secondary port end 13B has barb 16 configured to receive an end of a pick-up hose or tube (not shown).

FIGS. 1-4 depict dispensing structure tube 7 having hand grip 17 with primary handle structure 18 located on outer wall 19 of dispensing structure tube 7. Secondary handle structure 20 is located on outer wall 19 of dispensing structure tube 7. Primary handle structure 18 is located opposite secondary handle structure 20 and they each have dedicated arch 21.

These embodiments are illustrative of the invention and are not exhaustive thereof. As bottle stopper manufacturers add additional or different structures, still further structures may be required in future embodiments of the invention but all such future embodiments are within the scope of this invention.

For example, although, not as effective as hand grip 17 having a primary handle structure 18 located opposite secondary handle structure 20 (FIGS. 1-4), hand grip 17 could operate without a handle structure (FIG. 5). A user could grasp an outer wall 19 of dispensing structure tube 7 to remove receiving structure 2 from dispensing container 4.

Hand grip 17 can have only one handle structure (not shown). Thus, the single handle structure would be located on outer wall 19 of dispensing structure tube 7 to accommodate a user's fingers (not shown).

Moreover, receiving structure 2 may have a single sealing rib (not shown) located on a perimeter of receiving structure 2. Sealing rib 3 conforms to inner wall 6 of dispensing container port 5 when sealing rib 3 is inserted into dispensing container port 4.

A preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-5 is of receiving structure 2 having a plurality of sealing ribs 3 having a tapered configuration located on a perimeter of receiving structure 2. Thus, plurality of sealing ribs 3 will conform to a variety of bottles (not shown) having differing sized dispensing container ports (not shown).

In addition, dispensing structure tube 7 could operate without a latching surface (not shown). Dispensing tube 7 forms a water-tight seal to receiving structure 2 without the raised portion of latching surface.

Dispensing structure tube 7 may have a single latching surface (not shown) to restrict removal of dispensing structure tube 7 from receiving structure 2. Dispensing structure tube 7 may have two latching surfaces 9 (FIG. 1-5).

In addition to the aforesaid embodiments of receiving structure 2 of dispensing structure tube 7, primary port 12, and secondary port ends 13A and 13B include multiple additional improvements as well.

A first improvement as shown in FIGS. 1-5 is of secondary port end 13B (FIGS.

2-5) having barb 16 (FIGS. 1-5) configured to receive a pick-up hose or tube (not shown) having a length great enough to receive a liquid (not shown) from lower portion 22 (FIG. 1) of dispensing container 4 (FIG. 1).

Another improvement is depicted in FIG. 5 of primary port 12 and secondary port end 13A having push lock 25, washer 26, and bushing 14 to seal hose or tube 15 to dispensing structure tube 7. By sealing hose or tube 15 to primary port 12 (FIG. 5) and secondary port 13A (not shown), it prevents liquid from leaking out from dispensing mechanism 1 when in use.

These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set fourth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Construction of the Novel Dispensing Mechanism

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, it will be seen that the reference numeral 1 denotes an illustrative embodiment of novel dispensing mechanism 1 as a whole. Novel dispensing mechanism 1 is assembled by interconnecting receiving structure 2 and dispensing structure tube 7. FIG. 1 best describes receiving structure 2 having at least one sealing rib 3 located thereon. Receiving structure 2 is configured to conform to an inner wall 6 of dispensing container port 5 when at least one sealing rib 3 is inserted into dispensing container port 5 of dispensing container 4. Dispensing structure tube 7 has latching surface 9 located on outer perimeter 19 of dispensing structure tube 7. FIGS. 1-3 and 5 show dispensing structure tube 7 having primary port 12, secondary port end 13A (FIGS. 1 and 5) located opposite secondary port end 13B (FIGS. 2, 3, and 5).

FIGS. 1-4 show hand grip 17 having primary handle structure 18 located opposite secondary handle structure 20. Primary handle structure 18 and secondary handle structure 20 each having dedicated arch 21.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate dispensing structure tube 7 having an end portion 8 that is inserted into inner wall 11 (FIG. 1) of receiving structure 2. End portion 8 has secondary port end 13B with barb 16 that is configured to receive an end of pick-up hose or tube (not shown) having a length great enough to receive a liquid (not shown) from lower portion 22 (FIG. 1) of dispensing container 4 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 5 depicts hose or tube 15 having an end 10 that is inserted into primary port 12 located opposite an end 23 that is attached to a compressed gas source (not shown). Primary port 12 and secondary port 13A have integrally formed latching structure 24 with lock 25, washer 26, and bushing 14 to connect hose or tube 15 to dispensing structure tube 7.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A dispensing mechanism, comprising: a receiving structure, said receiving structure comprising at least one sealing structure; said at least one sealing structure is located on a perimeter of said receiving structure, said at least one sealing structure of said receiving structure is configured to conform to an inner circumference wall of a dispensing container port when said at least one sealing structure is inserted into said dispensing container port; said receiving structure receiving an end portion of a dispensing structure tube; and, said dispensing structure tube comprising a latching surface located on an outer perimeter of said dispensing structure tube, said latching surface of said dispensing structure tube having a raised portion, said raised portion configured to restrict removal of said dispensing structure tube from said receiving structure, whereby, said dispensing structure tube forms a water-tight seal to a receiving structure wall, said dispensing structure tube comprising a first port capable of transferring a gas into or out of a dispensing container, said dispensing structure tube comprising a second port capable of transferring a liquid into or out of said dispensing container.
 2. The dispensing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second port comprising an end configured to receive a hose, said hose having a length great enough to receive a liquid from a lower portion of said dispensing container.
 3. The dispensing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second port comprising an end configured to receive a tube, said tube having a length great enough to receive a liquid from a lower portion of said dispensing container.
 4. The dispensing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second port comprising an end comprising a barb configured to receive a hose, said hose having a length great enough to receive a liquid from a lower portion of said dispensing container.
 5. The dispensing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second port comprising an end comprising a barb configured to receive a tube, said tube having a length great enough to receive a liquid from said lower portion of said dispensing container.
 6. The dispensing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said dispensing structure tube comprising a hand grip, said hand grip comprising a first handle structure, said first handle structure located on an outer wall of said dispensing structure tube, and a second handle structure, said second handle structure located on an outer wall of said dispensing structure tube, whereby, said first handle structure is located opposite said second handle structure, said first handle structure and said second handle structure each comprising a dedicated arch partially conforming to at least one finger for removing or installing said dispensing structure tube into or out of said receiving structure. 